Learn a Character-Driven Approach to Screenplay Structure

My upcoming one-week online Core: Plot class begins Monday, January 15.

On Monday, January 15, I will start a new cycle of Core classes, eight in all, beginning with Core I: Plot. It is the only time I will be offering these one-week courses in 2024.

See below for two special offers!

In this 1-week online course, you will learn the importance of Plot = Structure as well as:

• Key theoretical concepts from Aristotle, Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung
• The reality of Hollywood and the “Whammo” theory
• The External World and Internal World of a screenplay universe
• Metamorphosis: Screenplay structure grounded in character
• Analysis of movies including Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Silence of the Lambs, Shakespeare in Love, The Verdict, The Sixth Sense, Up, and others

And much more.

The course consists of four components:

• Lectures: There are six lectures written by me, each posting Monday through Saturday.
• Logline Workshop: This optional writing exercise offer you the opportunity to workshop one of your own loglines.
• Teleconference: We will have a live Zoom teleconference call to discuss course material.
• Forums: The online course site has 24/7 forums where you may post questions and we engage in conversation about the craft.

A testimonial from a writer who took Core I: Plot

“As an aspiring screenwriter, I am grateful to Scott for providing me with such an in depth view of a core aspect of developing a story (in this case, Plot). His lectures are not meant to tell someone what the “right way” to develop a story is, but to guide you through the process of breaking down the fundamental elements to the structure of a story. My mind was blown after Day 1 as I have never tried to analyze a story the way Scott encouraged us to do. Despite the fact that the class was only a week long, I feel like I’ve come away with more knowledge than I ever anticipated receiving. His passion for helping and encouraging writers to become all that they can be is palpable. I will absolutely take another class with Scott in the future.” — Sarah Grimes

For those of you who have not taken an online class, the interface is extremely easy. Plus, online classes can be an amazing experience. Most of the activities you can do on your own time — download and read lectures, review and respond to forum discussions, upload loglines and track comments. In addition, I’ve been teaching online for over a decade and it never ceases to amaze me how much of a community emerges in such an environment.

If you’re new to screenwriting, have intermediate experience, or you’ve read it all, but want to learn the basics of what I teach in The Quest — character driven screenwriting — here is your chance to learn the foundation of screenplay structure that goes beyond formula.

I only teach my Core classes once a year and the 2023 cycle begins next month. Everything you need to know about screenwriting theory in this unique curriculum based on eight principles: Plot, Concept, Character, Style, Dialogue, Scene, Theme, Time.

CORE I: PLOT — A one-week class which begins with the principle Plot = Structure and explores the inner workings of the Screenplay Universe: Plotline and Themeline. Start date: January 15.

CORE II: CONCEPT — A one-week class which begins with the principle Concept = Hook and examines multiple strategies to generate, develop and assess story ideas. Start date: January 29.

CORE III: CHARACTER — A one-week class which begins with the principle Character = Function and delves into archetypes: Protagonist, Nemesis, Attractor, Mentor, and Trickster. Start date: February 12.

CORE IV: STYLE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Style = Voice and surfaces keys to developing a distinctive writer’s personality on the page. Start date: February 26.

CORE V: DIALOGUE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Dialogue = Purpose and probes a variety of ways to write effective, entertaining dialogue. Start date: March 11.

CORE VI: SCENE — A one-week class which begins with the principle Scene = Point and provides six essential questions to ask when crafting and writing any scene. Start date: March 25.

CORE VII: THEME — A one-week class which begins with the principle Theme = Meaning and gives writers a concrete take on theme which can elevate the depth of any story. Start date: April 8.

CORE VIII: TIME — A one-week class which begins with the principle Time = Present and studies Present, Present-Past, Present-Future and time management in writing. Start date: April 22.

If you’re new to screenwriting, have intermediate experience, or you’ve read it all, but want to explore character-driven screenwriting, here is your chance to learn the foundation of screenplay structure that goes beyond formula.

“Scott Myers is an uncommonly sensitive and erudite thinker and writer about the craft of modern screenwriting.” — Phil Hay, Crazy/Beautiful, The Invitation, Destroyer

This is not about secret systems or magic formulas, rather the Core content presents a story-crafting process that starts with characters, works with characters, and ends with characters. That process of engaging you with your story universe through your characters and getting you in touch with these living, breathing individuals informs every step of your creative process, leading you to story structure, themes, conflict, subplots, and all the rest. As I say, Character Driven Screenwriting.

This cycle, I am offering a special sale price. Normally, the Core classes are $95 each. In 2024, each is on sale for $79!

A popular option is the Core Package which gives you exclusive access to the content in all eight Craft classes which you can go through on your own time and at your own pace, plus automatic enrollment in each 1-week online course — all for nearly 50% off the normal price of each individual class. If you sign up now, you can have immediate access to all of the Core content.

“I’m a huge fan of Scott’s classes, and I signed up for his Core Package, which I cannot speak highly enough about. If anyone wants to take a serious look at improving their writing, there is more than enough material to keep you busy for a few… dare I say, lifetimes? He’s the best. No bones about it.” 
 — Heather Farlinger

This year, I’m making available a special offer: If you enroll in the Core Package, I will send you an autographed copy of my book: The Protagonist’s Journey … for free!

“Scott is a brilliant guide for anyone looking to get into screenwriting.” — Lisa Joy, Westworld, Reminiscence

My book is an introduction to character-driven screenwriting and storytelling. The Core curriculum takes you much deeper into the subject matter and touches on all the key principles you need to know to elevate your screenwriting chops.

To learn about any of the Core classes, click here.

CORE I: PLOT
Starts January 15, 2024
Enroll now!

I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!